Wiredrawing machine



Aug. 12, 1941.

R. C. PIERCE -wIRE-DRAWING MACHINE Fld June 26. 1937v 4 SheetsSheet l INVENTOR. ROBERT C Pm-RCE WM# i M ATTORNEYS Aug. l2, 1941. R, C, MERCE 2,252g352 WIRE-DRAWINGv MACHINE Filed June 26, 1937 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 l 234 @Il a INVENTOR. ROBERT C. HERCE ATroRyEY.

Axg. 12, 1941. a cQPlERcI-z WIRE-DRAWING' MACHINE 4' sheets-sheet 3 Filed June 26, 1937 INVENTOR.

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WIRE-DRAWING MACHINE Filed June 26, 19.37

Patented` ug. 12, 1941 WIREDBAWING MACHINE Robertv C. Pierce, Niles, Mich., assigner to National Standard Company, Niles, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Application June 26.41931, serial Nc. 150,416

12 Claims. ((Cl, 205-14) This invention relates to wire-drawing machines, and is illustrated as embodied in an automatic machine for drawing thewire suc-f cessively through a series of dies progressively diminishing in size. i i

An object of the invention is to provide a sensitively controllable machine, by individually varying the speed of motors directly driving capstans drawing the wire through the dies, in accordance with `the movements of devices on the opposite sides of the corresponding dies and which maintain a back tension on -the wire at each die to facilitate drawing the wire through it.

Various features of novelty relate to the construction and arrangement of a simple and reliable control means of this sort for the various motors for example by utilizing a sprocket chain or the like to connect the tension device to its weight and also to drive the speed-change connections and by providing adjustments for varying the speed change'caused by a given movement of the tension device, to vary the sensitivf ity, and for shifting the range of speeds without changing the sensitivity.

Another feature of the invention relates to providing accurate control of the circulation of a cooling liquid to the dies, and to the capstans.

These and otherobjeets and features of the invention, including various novel combinations of parts and desirable particular constructions, 30

will be apparent from the following description of the illustrative embodiment shown in the accompanyii'ig drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a front elevation with .part of the machine embodying my novel improvements;

Figure 2 is a section on the line 2-2 'of Figure 1 made on a slightly enlarged scale;

Figure 3 is a partial section on the line 3-3 of Figure 2V showing on -a still further enlarged 40 scale details of the motor speed control rheostat operating mechanism; i

Figure 4 is a section on the line '4-4 of Figure 3; and

Figure 5 Ais a wiring diagram of control and power supply of the machine.

Referring now to the gures, there is illustrated a wire drawingV machine embodying my' novel improvements in which the wire is successively through three dies, although be understood that my improvements could be applied to a machine employing any number of dies, more or less, as conditions indicate to be e desirable.

Such a Vmachine as passed is illustrated is called a the electrical '45 itistcw three pass machine and may be considered as consisting of three units mounted on an integral frame l0 which I prefer to build up of standard structural steel shapes and plates welded together to form suitable supportsjor the various mechanisms.

The frame I0 `may be arranged to provide a lower platform I2 upon which are mounted three motors Il, Iiyand I8, the motor il being a constant speed alternating current motor (e. `g. a squirrel cage induction motor) and the motors IQ an'd i8 being variable speed alternating current motors, preferably phase wound rotor induction motors.

These motors drive three capstan, wheels 22, 24 and 26 arranged in a horizontal line along the machine and in a vertical plane. The driving means between themotors and capstans preferably consists of multiple V-belts 2l driving pulleys 20 journalled in blocks on a second platform 32 provided-by the frame Il, the pulleys 3U being stan wheels at the desired speed. I

In the first two units of the illustrated machine this gearing comprises pinions 3l mounted on the same shafts with the .pulleys 3l, driving gears 38 on layshafts Il carrying additional pinions 40 which drive large Vgears I2 secured on shafts Il fon which the capstan wheels are mounted. The shafts Il are journalled in blocks Il attached to the platform l2.-

In the third unit, due to the fact that .each capstan must run at an average higher speed v lthan'the preceding onefone set of gears. e. g., superstructure broken away of a wire drawing 35- gear 36, its layshaft 3B and pinionl Il, is eliminated and the pinion 3l the large gear l2 directly. t

' Each of the capstans has associated therewith a dieholder li, 50 and i2 respectively, each concally downward through the dies. The die holders are each arranged, in a manner not concerned with the present invention, so as to be adjustable' angularly about two axes disposed at right angles-in a horlzontalplane torpermit alinement of the die.

Wire is fed to the die in holder 48 from a guide sheave 54 rotatably mounted on a fixed bracket i1 attached to the top of the frame I0 in such a position that the wire leaves the sheaves 54 in line with the die andcapstan periphery. Suitable means for supplying wire to the guide sheave from a reel or the like are shown in my copending application Serial No. 68,856, filed March 14, 1936.

Wire passes from the capstan 22 to the capstan 5 24 and from the capstan 24 to the capstan 26 over guide sheaves 56 and 58 respectively rotatably mounted on slides 60 and 62 vertically movable on guides 64 and 66. 'I'hese guides are, in one desirable arrangement, each formed of Atwo cylindrical rods 68 secured at their lower ends in brackets 10 bolted to the top of the frame I0. The upper ends of each pair of the rods 68 are tied together by cast members 12 which are formed with spaced sockets for said upper ends 15 connected by ahorizontal flange. The slides 60 and 62 are disposed between the pairs of rods and are formed with lugs having opposite outwardly directed semi-circular grooves fitting around the rods.

In order to tension the wire a's it enters the die, in the manner described and claimed in my previously mentioned copending application, sprocket chains '|4 are secured to the top of each slide. These chains pass over pairs of sprockets 2g 16 mounted on pivots at the front and rear ends of channel members 18, the front ends of which are secured to the flanges of the cast members 'I2 and which extend to the rear of the machine where they are supported by vertically disposed angle irons 80.

The chains pass downwardly from the rear sprockets '|6 and have weights 82 suspended thereon, preferably In the same manner employed in the usual weighing scale, so that weight may be added or removed conveniently.

In the illustrative embodiment a sheet of light gage metal is formed parti-cylindrically .and bolted to each lee.r of the angle irons 80 to form a housing 84 for the weights 82.

For a purpose to be described below, additional pairs of sprockets '|6 are arranged generally below the first described pairs near the bottom of the machine and the chains '|4 are continued from the bottoms of the Weights 82 under these 45 sprockets and up to the bottoms of the slides 60 and 62 to form closed circuits. Turnbuckles 83 are provided above the weights 82 to keep the chains tight.

Another guide pulley 85, swingably mounted on a slide 8,6, slidable in a guide 88, is positioned to receive wire from the capstan 26 and feed it under tension to a windup reel (not shown) as described in my above identified copending application.v The movements of this slide are preferably utilized to control the speed of the Windup reel.

For reasons of safety to both machine and operator, it is desirable to have a locking device on the slides 60, 62 and 86 to prevent them from 60 being thrown to the top of their respective guides should the wire break. The novel locking devices which I have provided comprise brackets 238 bolted at the bottom of the front and rear faces of the slides and extending to one side past one 05 of the rods 68 to form bearings for shafts 240.

The central portions oi' the shafts 240, between the brackets 238 are formed eccentrlcally (see Figure 4) and have pivoted thereon shoes 242 provided with friction linings 244 adapted to con- 70 tact the rods 68 when the shafts 240 are rotated.

At the end of the shafts toward the front of the machine arms 246 are secured carrying at their ends small rollers or sheaves 248 adapted to contact the wire extending from the sheaves 54, 58,

58 or 85 as the case may be. At the other end of the shafts 240 are secured arms 250 having tension springs'252 tensioned between their ends and some fixed part of the slides. The springs tend to rotate the shafts 240 to apply the shoes 242 to the rods 68 and lock the sheaves 248 bearing against the wire prevent this unless the wire breaks.

An important feature of the invention resides in the means for controlling the speed of the motors I6 and I8 so as to maintain the wire tight and pass it on through each unit as rapidly as it leaves the preceding one while at the same time giving it a constant back pull.

To accomplish this the two variable speed motors I6 and I8 are respectively provided with rheostats and 82 of any standard type shown dlagrammatically in Figure 5 as each comprising, in the case of a three phase motor, three sets of contact points 94 arranged in arcs of a common circle and tapping successive portions of three resistances 86. To one end of each of the resistances is connected one phase lead of the wound rotor of the respective motor, and a three arme/d contactor 88 pivoted on the center of the above mentioned common circle serves to connect the phase leads in Y, and upon rotation to simultaneously introduce or takeout some of the resistances 86 in each phase.

It will be understood that in the actual rheostat the contacts are so closely arranged or the contactor arms are so broad that they engage the next contact before disengaging the first one so that the rotor circuits areclosed at all times.

.The rheostats 90 and 92 are mounted on the upper part of the machine frame just to the left (as seen in Fig. 1) of the guides 64 and 66 respectively. With specific reference to Figure 3, the rheostats are operated by levers |00 having one 40 end secured to shafts |02 journalled in and passing through the covers of the rheostat boxes. Arms |04.are secured on the inner ends of the shafts |02 and carry at their free ends the ends of tension springs |06 having their other ends secured to second arms I 08 freely journalled on the shafts |02.

The arms |08are forked at their free ends to engage pins I I0 secured to the rheostat contactors 98, thus permitting the covers of the rheostat boxes to be freely removed and replaced. Lugs ||2 on the arms |04 engage shoulders ||4 on the arms |08 so that movement of the levers |06 in a clockwise direction positively moves the contactors through engagementof the lugs ||2 and shoulders ||4 while movement in the other direction moves the contactors resiliently under the influence of the springs |06.

The arms |00 are forked at their free ends and have pivoted in the forks sleeves ||6 ln each of which is rotatably mounted one end of a push rod I8. The push rods are prevented from axial movement by hand wheels |20 and collars |22 pinned thereto at opposite ends of the sleeves.

The rods 8 extend downwardly and are threaded into blocks |24 pivoted on slides |26. slidably arranged in slots |28 in arms |30. Handwheels |32 secured to threaded stems |34 extending centrally along the slots |28 and threadedly engaging theslides |26, form means for adjusting the positions of the slides |26 to vary the effective lengths of the arms |30. Similarly the hand wheels |20 and the threaded connections between the rods ||8 and the blocks |24 form .means for adjusting the effective lengths of the rods 8.

"slide but the o The arms |30 are keyed tol shafts |36 journalled in cast brackets' |38 bolted to the brackets 10 of the respective guides 64 and 66. Worm wheels |40 are keyed to the shafts |30 and mesh with worms |42 secured to shafts |44 also journalled in the brackets |36.

The shafts |44 carry sprockets |46, each arranged in line with the center of the corresponding slide, and which are engaged by the lower parts of chains 14 previously described. To hold the chain in engagement with the sprockets |46 guide lsprockets |48 are pivotally mounted on the brackets |36 so as to engage the other side of the I preferto run a water main |52 along the back of the machine at the level of the topv of the frame I0. Valves |54 open from this main and admit water to tubes |56 which lead to special pipe ttings |58 in the rear ends of the shafts 44. 'I'he shafts 44 are drilled and provided with tubes (not shown) dening concentric inner` and outer passages through the safts, (as described in my above-identiiled copending application) and through the inner passages thus defined the water passes to the front ends of the shafts 44 and then through tubes |60'to peripheral water jackets |62 formed on the capstans. The water then circulates around'the capstans in these jackets and out through tubes |64 to theI outer passages in the shafts 44 (not shown) and back to the fittings |58 from'which it passes through tubes |66 to my novel sight gages or visible discharge means.

These sight gages comprise cast iron receptacles |68 closed at the bottom and open at the top and provided with integral bridges ornsupporting members |10 arranged across their tops and spaced upwardly therefrom. These supporting members carry the ends of the tubes |66 andY the tubes are arranged to discharge downwardly into the receptacles. Rods |12 provided with hand Wheels extend from the stems ofthe valves |54 to the front of the machine to facilitate operation of lthe valves.

Water is also conducted from the main |52 through tubes |14 to the die-holders 48, 50 and ually.

cooling water i's being properly circulated in every part of the machine.

'I'he electrical control and power system of this machine is shown by the wiring diagram desig` nated Figure 5 and the novel features thereof are described and claimed in the copending applicationSe'rial No. 165,621 led September 25, 193'?, by Richard Koontz. It is believed desirable to incorporate herein a brief description of this system.

It is Apreferable to mount a switch box |84 on the machine in any desired position such as that shown in Figure 1, containing, for a three pass machine, four automatic 4switches three of which, designated |86, |88, and |90 are single throw three pole switches operated respectively by solenoids I 92, |94 and |96 and the fourth of which is a single throw 4 pole switch |98 operated by a solenoid 200.

Adjacent the first unit of the machine are posiy tioned a jog button 202 for turning over the first unit separately, a start button 204 for starting the whole machine together and a stop button 206 for stopping the whole machine. Jog buttons 208 and 2I0 are provided adjacent the two succeeding units for turning'them over individ-` A three phase power line 2|2 is conducted to the switch box |84 the three wires of which may be designated I, 2 and 3. Each of these wires is divided three ways and connected to the contacts of the switches |86, |88 and |90.

, The power lines from the motors I4; I6 and I8 are connected respectively to the poles of the switches |86, |88 and |90. Thus closing any of.

these switches starts the vcorresponding motor. The solenoids of all the switches' have one ter-A minal connected to phase wire I. The other terminals are connected to leads 2I4, 2|6 and 2I8, each of which divide into parallel circuits 2I9 and 220, 222 and 224, '226 and 228 respec- I tively. Circuits 2I9, 222 and 224 are respectively connected to one contact of the push buttons 202, 206, and 2|0. The other contacts of these push buttons are connected to lead 42 of the power line by a wireA 229 which also connectsallfour contacts of the switch |98 to lead 2.' Circuits 220, 224 and 228 areeach connected to a pole of the switch |98.

Solenoid 200 is also connected to phase lead I and' its other terminal is connected to a line 230 which extends to one contact of the start button 204 the other contact being connectedI through wire 229 to lead 2. Shunted around the 52. The die holders are formed with passages for the circulation of water therethrough to cool the dies. The water enters from the tubes |14 at the left of the die-holders as seen in Figure l, petcocks |16 being provided to lcut off or adiust the flow of water.. After circulating through the die holders the water leaves through tubes |16 which also terminate `on the bridges |10 of the respective receptacles |68 and discharge downwardly thereinto.

At the bottom of the receptacles drain pipes I80`extend to the rear of the machine and downward to a large pipe |02 which conducts the discharged cooling water to a drain or sewer.

It will be appreciated that this novel arrangement enables the machine operator to assure himself, by a glance 'along the machine, that tangling etc. An example is the placing of these switches, as seen in Fig. 2, at the top and bottom of the guides 62, 64 and 66 to be operated by cams 236 carried by the slides 58, 60 and 62 when and if the slides ever reach the limits of their movement.

The v'operation of the machine is as follows.

In threading themachilne it is desirable to op- Y erate any one of the motors I4, I6 or I8 individually. This is done `by pushing and holding the respective jog button 202, 208 or 2|0 positioned by that motor to energize the solenoid |912.V |94 The circuit 232 is closed by the switch |98 to constitute a holding circuit for that switch so that the motors continue' to run uponrelease of the start button. But upon openingcircuit 232 by pushing the stop button 206 or any of the limit switches all the motors stop.

With the machine running, if the capstan 24 is turning too slow to take up all the wire leaving the capstan 22 the slide 60 moves up along the guide 64 under the influence of the weights 82. The incidental movement of the chain 14 rotates the sprocket |46 and worm |44, turning the arm |30 counterclockwise as seen in Figure 3 and swinging the arm in the opposite direction through the pushrod ||8 and thereby operating the rheostat 90 to reduce the amount of the resistances 96 in the rotor circuit. The speed of the motor I6 then increases until upon reaching a properly proportioned'speed, the slide 62 is brought to rest. The same cycle occurs in the bpposite direction should the speed be too high and also in each succeeding unit. This keeps the desired constant back pull on the wire as it passes through the successive dies in spite of the elongation of the wire in each die.

The two adjustments provided by handwheels |20 and |32vare important. 'Wheel |32 adjusts the lever arm of the lever |30 thereby changing the proportion between the movements of the slides and the corresponding movements of the rheostat. Thus the machine is made more or less sensitive as required for the particular type and size of wire being drawn. Handwheels |20 change the positions of the rheostats without changing the position of the slides and vice versa. With this provision full slide movement need not provide the full rangeof motor speed adjustment; but a narrower range may be selected sufficient to make all adjustments for the particular wire being drawn and thus the machine may be made more sensitive without limiting its versatility.

I claim:

1. A wire-drawing machine comprising a die, a capstan for drawing the wire vertically downward through the die, a motor for driving said capstan, means engaging the wire on theopposite side of the die from the drawing means and maintaining a substantially unifonn back tension on the wire to facilitate drawing it through the die, said back tension means including a vertically-,movable part whose vertical position is varied by variations in the feeding of the wire through the die, a device for controlling the speed of the motor, and connections from said part to said device for varying the motor speed to compensate for said variations.

2.A wire-drawing machine comprising a die, a Ycapstan for drawing the wire vertically downward through the die, a motor for driving said capstan, means engaging the wire on the opposite side of the die from the drawing means and maintaining a substantially uniform back tension on the wire to facilitate drawing it through the die, said back tension means including a vertically-movable part whose vertical position is and |86 to close the respective switch |86, |88, y

through the die, a device for controlling the speed of the motor, a continuous sprocket chain operatively connected to and driven by said part, and operating connections for said device having a drive member meshing with and .driven by said sprocket chain.

3. A control device for a wire-drawing machine or the like comprising spaced parallel vertical bars, a slide between said bars having parts guidingly engaging said bars, a brake member mounted on. said slide and engageable with one of said bars, a lever pivoted on said slide and connected to operate said member, a spring urging said lever in a,drection to cause the brake member to engage its bar, and a part carried by said lever and over which the wire being drawn in the machine passes and which is so arranged that the tension of the wire overcomes said spring and withdraws the brake member from its bar.

4. A wire-drawing machine or the like com-,- prising, in combination with means for operating on the wire and with means for feeding the wire therethrough and with speed-varying means for the feeding means, vertically-arranged guide membershaving a slide movably mounted thereon, a brake member carried by the slide and having a spring urging it against one of the guide members and a part over which the wire passes a'nd which is so connected that the tension of the wire overcomes the spring and withdraws the brake member from the guide member, means yieldingly urging the slide vertically of said guide members, a part carried by said slide and over which the wire passes in such a direction that the tension of the wire resists and is balanced against the yielding means, and connections from the slide to said speed varying means for operating it.

5. A wire-drawing machineF or the like comprising,in combination with means for operating on the wire and with means for feeding the wire therethrough including a motor and, means for varying the speed oi.' the motor, vertically-arranged guide members having a slide movably mounted thereon, a safety device carried by the slide and which is urged by a spring in a direction to prevent movementv of the slide and which has a part over which the wire passes and which is so connected that the tension of the wire overcomes the spring and holds the safety device inoperative, means yieldingly urging the slide vertically of said guide members, a part carried by said slide and over which the wire passes in such a direction that the tension oi' the wire resists and is balanced against the yielding means, and connections from the slide to said motor-speed varying means for operating it.

6. A wire-drawing machine or the like comprising, in combination with means for operating on the wire and with wire-feeding means including a speed-varying device, a part over which the wire passes, means yieldingly urging said part in a direction to create, a back tension in the wire, a lever rocked by motion of said part, and a connection between said lever and the speed-varying device, said connection being readily adjustable as to length for varying the range of speedswithout affecting the amount of speed variation caused by a given movement of the lever, said connection being in the form of a tierod, andthe means for making the adjustment comprising a handwheel secured to the rod and means on one of the connected elements rotatably receiving one of the rod ends and means on I the other of the connectedL elements threadedly receiving the other end of the rod.

'7. A wire-drawingmachine or the like comprising, in combination with means for operating on the wire and with wire-feeding means including a speed-varying device, a part over which the wire passes, means yieldingly urging said part in a direction to create a backtension in the wire, a leverrocked by motion of said part, and a connection between said lever andthe speed-varying device, said connection being readily adjustable as to length for varying the range of speeds without affecting the amount of speed variation caused by a given movement of the lever, said lever having its e'ective length readily adjustable to change'the speed variation caused by a given lever movement without changing the range of speeds controlled by the lever.

8. A wire-drawing machine or the like comprising, in combination with means for operating on the wire and with wire-feeding means including a speed-varying device, a part over which the wire passes, means yieldingly urgingsaid part in a direction to create a back tension in the wire, a lever rocked by motion of said part, and a connection between said lever and the speed-varying device, said lever having its effective length readily adjustable to change the speed variation caused by a given lever movement without changing the range of speeds controlled by the lever.

9. A wire-drawing machine comprising a series of dies, a corresponding series of capstans driven about parallel horizontal axes and which are all arranged in the same vertical plane and each of which is tangent to the Wire below one of the dies and which draw the wire vertically downward through the dies, a part engaging the4 wire on the other side of the die lfrom each capstan and over which the wire is looped to pass downwardly into the die, means yieldingly urging said parts individually upward to maintain a back tension on the wire at each die, a motor driving each capstan, and 4a. speed-varying device for each motor connected to be controlled by the one of said partswhich is on the opposite side of the corresponding die.

10. -A wire-drawing machine comprising a series of dies, a corresponding series of capstans driven about parallel horizontal axes and which are all arranged in the same vertical plane and each of which is tangent to the wire below one of the dies and which draw the wire vertically downward through the dies, spaced parallel vertical guide members adjacent each die, a slide on each set of guidemembers, a part on each slide engaging the wire on the other 'side of the die from the corresponding capstan and over 'which the wire is looped to pass downwardly into the die, means yieldingly urging each of said slides upward to maintain a back tension on the wire at each die, and a motor driving each capstan and provided with a motor speed-varying device connected to be controlled by the one of said slides which is on the opposite side of the corresponding die.

11. A control device for a wire-drawing machine or the like, comprising a guide, a slide movable on the guide, a brake member mounted on the slide and engageable with the, guide, a lever pivoted on said slide and connected to operate said member, a spring'urging said lever in a direction to cause the brake member to engage the guide, and a part carried by said lever and over which the wire being drawn in the machine passes and which is soarranged that the tension of the wire overcomes said spring and withdraws the brake member from the guide.

12. A control device for a wire-drawing machine or the like comprising a guide, a slide movable on said guide, a part carried by the slide over which the wire passes, means yleldably urging the slide in a direction to tension the wire, a

brake member mounted on the slide and engageable with the guide and actuatable to resist said.

means and lock the slide on the guide when there is no wire passing over said part.

ROBERT c. PIERCE. 

